Review:
*I received an ecopy of this book via NetGalley. This has not influenced my review.*
This was a great ending to a trilogy that has been a unique, raunchy, sexually charged, but ultimately sweet mash-up of urban fantasy and cyberpunk.
This final book seemed to have less action than the previous two and a slower pace, but I didn’t mind. The characters had some things they needed to sort out, within themselves and with each other. They also had a break-out to plan and prepare for. And there were some chapters that showed us what actually happened during and after The Job That Went Bad. That contributed to the slower pace, but it was important background information because of how it impacted JT and Austin and the current happenings in the story.
There was definitely some sex as well, and some of it was just thrown in there for the hell of it, but the actual sex scenes didn’t overtake the story this time the way they somewhat seemed to in the first book. But even when it wasn’t happening on-page, the book was very sexually charged, which is not a complaint because that’s how all the books have been, and it’s fitting for the characters. There was also one scene that was, ahh… a little different.
Tentacles. There were tentacles. Lots of them.
Although the tentacles may have been a bit extreme for my taste, something I liked was how the sex in this book was not perfect and beautiful. It was definitely enjoyable for the characters, but the author didn’t shy away from some of the less pretty realities. This was also fitting for the characters because they were not the types to have perfect, pretty, sanitized sex. They were the types to get down and dirty and love it.
Speaking of the characters… I love JT and Austin. I love that they’re these rough, tough, criminal, masculine dudes, but they don’t suffer from toxic masculinity. They love. They care. They cry. They feel. And I’ve really enjoyed getting to know them and seeing things through their unique perspectives because they’re both so different from me. The fact that they’re an orc and a elf just made it even better because I love supernatural creatures (plus the elf glamour was really cool and different from any other way I’ve ever seen glamour done).
I also loved their relationship. It was not a traditional romance. Things between them have been so taut and difficult since the first book because of the history between them. Mistakes have been made on both sides. But they’ve always cared about and wanted each other, that much was clear. And they have a great, raw chemistry. And whenever they were honest and open and vulnerable with each other, it was amazing.
There was also the interesting cyberpunk aspect of the story. It was mostly technology that was already in the previous books, but it was still so unique, and the author just throws the reader right into the world and lets you figure things out from context instead of stopping the narrative to explain.
Orcs, elves, advanced technology, crime, evil wizards, sex, romance—this series has been a really interesting combination of things, and I found this to be a satisfying ending to an enjoyable story!
Recommended For:
Fans of Books 1 and 2 in Don Allmon's Blue Unicorn series. Anyone who likes M/M, cyberpunk/urban fantasy mash-ups, uncommon supernatural creatures, and gritty, raunchy, hard-edged characters.
More Books in the Series:
Book Review: The Glamour Thieves (Blue Unicorn Book 1) by Don Allmon
Book Review: Apocalypse Alley (Blue Unicorn Book 2) by Don Allmon
Book Review: The Burning Magus (Blue Unicorn Book 3) by Don Allmon
![Book Review: The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger [Audiobook]](https://metaphorsandmoonlight.com/wp-content/uploads/Book-Review-The-Time-Travelers-Wife-by-Audrey-Niffenegger-255x255.jpg)
Ok, now you’ve got me thinking about tentacles and sex, lol! Glad the series wrapped up so well.
Lol it was quite a scene 😂 thanks!
I think I remember you reviewing an earlier one of these, this looks really familiar. The orc/ elf thing maybe. Glad this was a good end to the series! Plus, you know, tentacles. 🙂
As always the cyberpunk aspects have me reallllly curious too…
I guess cyberpunk about an orc and an elf is pretty memorable LOL. And those tentacles were really something 😬😂
‘Tentacles. There were tentacles. Lots of them.’ – *laughs hysterically* I read waaay too much fanfiction, because I know exactly how that goes 😉
Do you though????!?! Because this was like a tentacle-oscopy! Lol
Yeah, I’ve read Venom fanfiction… so I’m going to go with ‘YES.’ Seriously, giving fandom an excuse to write tentacle porn was not something I considered when Venom came out… I was so naïve.
I didn’t even know Venom had tentacles. Fanfiction, causing fans everywhere to lose their innocence LOL.
Weeeelllllll… he’s more gelatinous goop that forms and re-forms in what sometimes looks like tentacle-type shapes. This was all the internet needed. And yes… there are many things I didn’t need to read… thanks to fandom I’m a totally un-innocent virgin! Lol.
Yep, I can see how that would be all the internet would need lol.
I er… don’t know how I would feel about tentacles in the sex scene but well, to each their own! I really like that the sex isn’t overtaking the story line though, even though sometimes they still feel thrown in for the sake of being thrown in. The characters sound wonderful though! I love that they are so unique in all their talents and their niches. Sounds like such a cool team to read working together. Happy you were satisfied with the end of the series ^.^
LOL yeah, it was a bit much for me too, but not altogether surprising given how sexual and kind of extreme this whole series has been. Thanks!
This sounds like a series that I need in my life. checked and it is on Scribd!
I hope you like it!
I was pretty satisfied with this ending. Especially after the second book was so meh…
It’s a pretty wild series that I wouldn’t normally like but you can’t help but love JT and Austin.
Karen @ For What It’s Worth
I hate it when trilogies switch characters just for the second book because then I have to read it, but I don’t end up liking it because I’m not into those characters. But yeah, I was happy with this ending. Is your review up on your blog yet? I looked but couldn’t find it.
I really shoud make cyberpunk one of the new genres I’m going to try in 2019. I’m so curios about this genre! 🙂
I keep saying I’m going to try more cyberpunk, but I’ve still read hardly any, so we’ll make it a goal for both of us for next year LOL.
Pingback: Out of this World Blogger Award – Cat on the Bookshelf